TSN Radio Host Proposes Groundbreaking Idea to Increase the Volume of Trades in the NHL
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
TSN OverDrive host Bryan Hayes has proposed a groundbreaking idea that would undoubtedly increase the volume of trades across the NHL, but the league would never go for it.
In today's NHL, there aren't nearly as many blockbuster trades as there were in years past. Sure, you see the odd top tier player dealt before leaving their team as a UFA or signing an offer sheet as a restricted free agent, but for the most part, big blockbuster deals are more a thing of the past.
What if the league found a way to up the level of intrigue by opening the door for bigger deals to occur more regularly? Sure, it seems like a pipe dream right now, but it's certainly an idea worth contemplating if you're an NHL executive looking to try to grow the popularity of the league.
The Athletic's Jonas Siegel recently appeared on an episode of TSN 1050's OverDrive and asked the question to get the ball rolling.
"Do you guys ever wish there was more player movement in the NHL?"
TSN's Bryan Hayes had the answer right in the chamber, quickly revealing what the NHL and NHLPA could do to make it happen.
"Sure, I mean for the nature of our business, it's always way more compelling when you get crazy trades and more movement, but it's on the players in order to push for that... I think the way around it is get rid of no movement clauses. Get rid of no trade clauses. That's what stops trades. Teams would trade players in a heartbeat -- it's the players that don't allow it."
Hayes also brought up the fact that, if not for NMCs and NTCs, Mitch Marner would have been traded for Mikko Rantanen ahead of the trade deadline, which would have marked one of the biggest deals of the last decade.
Will the NHL and NHLPA Ever Do Away With No Movement and No Trade Clauses?
The consensus among the panel was that even though doing away with NMCs and NTCs would increase movement and excitement across the league, since it's a player-driven decision, it will never come to pass.
Players have families, and wouldn't feel comfortable with no security and never feeling settled -- especially the players with young children. For that reason alone, it's highly unlikely that the Players Association would ever entertain such an idea.
However, if the league wants to grow the sport at a much faster rate, allowing teams more freedom to move players would certainly be one way to make things more interesting.
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